Alone in the middle of the sea: tragic accident or planned disappearance? (6 photos)

They disappeared, remaining in the open sea off the Bahamas. without help or support. But is this tragic story so unambiguous married couple?





Spouses Lonergan - 28-year-old Eileen and 33-year-old Tom were fond of diving and decided to treat themselves to an appropriate vacation. IN as part of a group of 26 people, the guys went on a trip to the Bahamas islands from the Australian city of Port Douglas. Since they were already quite experienced divers (on account of more than 150 dives), then from the help of the instructor refused.



Everything went on as usual - good weather, outdoor activities. How suddenly, a couple of days later, the skipper of the Outer Edge boat, on which organized a trip, found a bag with documents belonging to four Lonergan.

We contacted the management of the hotel where they were staying. But the couple was not there.

Then someone from the group remembered that at the bottom there was a belt from wetsuit. The search for the missing began. How did it happen that after the disappearance of two people, the boat calmly returned back? Ordinary human factor: instructors counted the divers by heads and trivially wrong.

Fatal oversight



It became clear that the two were simply left in the open sea and returned without even remembering those who were absent. Authorities immediately organized a large-scale search operation involving boats, helicopters and even airplanes. But since the disappearance has already passed more than two days. What were the chances of a favorable outcome? They going to zero...

On the beach at a distance of more than 100 km from the city found separate parts of the costumes marked as belonging to the spouses. Luckily, there were no shark teeth marks on them. So there is still hope remained. But the search turned out to be fruitless, and on February 14, 1998 year, the operation was cancelled.

Request for help



Six months later, a sign was found off the coast, which divers use to communicate underwater, dated January 26, the following content:

Monday 26 January; 1998 8:00. To everyone who can us help: we were left at the Agentcourt Reef by the boat "Outer Edge" 25 January 98 at 15:00. Please save us, send us help before we die. Help!!

It is possible that by the time the search began, people were already dead. Even if they were not overtaken by sharks, then the ruthless tropical Sun.



But the lack of imprints of shark teeth on the elements is embarrassing equipment. Plus, the couple's costumes were very high quality, expensive, long maintaining temperature. In things, Tom's notes were found, where the man mentioned financial difficulties.

Or was it such an elaborate way to stage your own death to disappear from the horizon and start a new life? But why so risky and complicated?



Shot from the film "Open Sea"

Captain Geoffrey Nairn was charged with manslaughter. The court acquitted the man, but his professional reputation in the light of what happened was so tarnished that he could no longer work in this area.

Team members escaped with a slight fright and paid fines. To prevent such cases, the authorities have tightened the rules that must be observed when organizing a tourism business. Yes, it became obligatory family roll call, which is carried out by both the captain and Instructor.

In memory of history in 2004, the film "Open Sea" was shot, changing the names of the characters, but maintaining the factual accuracy of events.